Adjustable shoe tree



June 22, 1948. i

l. KING ADJUSTABLE SHOE TREE Filed NOV. 5, 1946 QINVENTOR: fiwily' Jf ATTORMEX Patented June 22, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Anms'rma snor: 'rnea Irving King, Beverly nun, cam. Application November 5, 1946, Serial No. 707,875

1 Claim; (01. 12-1283) This invention is a shoe tree, and the general object of the invention is to provide an adjustable shoe tree which may be adjusted to shoes of several different sizes for holding said shoes in shape. I

A more particular object is to provide a shoe tree of the character stated which may be easily operated to adjust it to fit shoes oi different sizes, or to remove it from a shoe as required.

Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter as this specification progresses.

The invention is illustrated in the annexed drawing, which forms a part of this specification, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of my invention shown in its contracted position and showing in outline a shoe of the largest size to which my in vention may be adjusted.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of my invention shown expanded to its limit and adlus'ted to fit the largest size shoe to which it may be fitted, which shoe is shown in outline.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of my invention taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a cross section of my invention taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a cross section of my invention taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, in which corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals in all of the figures. my shoe tree includes a pair of foot forms I and 2, a pair of heel forms '3 and 4, a form-adjusting member I. a foot-form toggle 8 connected to said foot forms I and '2, and to the forward end of said adjusting members 5 and a heelform toggle I connected to said heel forms I and 4, and to the rear end of said adjusting member 5. I

The foot forms I and 2 are shaped to fit the inside of the forward portion of a shoe, as shown in outline indicated at 8. and the heel forms 2 and 4 are shaped to fit the inside of the heel of said shoe. The foot forms I and 2 are formed in their inner edges with recesses O and, respectively, to receive the links II and I2, respectively, of the foot-form toggle I. The heel forms 3 and 4 are formed in their inner edges with recesses I3 and I4, respectively, which receive the links Ill and I8, respectively, of the heel-form toggle I. The links. and I2 of the foot-form toggle 8 are pivoted at their outer ends to the foot forms I and 2, respectively, by pivots I1 and I8, in the recesses 9 and I0, respectively. of said foot forms. The links I! and II of the heel-form toggle I are pivoted at their outer ends to the heel-forms 3 and 4, respectively, by pivots I8 and 20, in the recesses I2 and I4. respectively, of said heel forms.

The form-adjusting member ii comprises a threaded adjusting rod 2| formed intermediate its ends with a grip member such as a knurled thumb wheel 22. a forward connecting sleeve 23 threaded on the forward portion of said acljusting rod 2|, and a rear connecting sleeve 24 threaded on the rear portion of said adjusting rod. The forward connecting sleeve 23 is formed on its forward end with a fork 25, in which extend, in overlapping relation, the inner ends of the links II and I2 of the foot-form toggle i, which ends of said links are pivoted to said fork 25 by a pivot". The rear connecting sleeve 24 is formed on its rear end with a fork 21, into which extend the inner ends of the links I5 and I8 of the heel-form toggle I, which ends of said links are pivoted to said fork 21 by a pivot 28.

The operation, uses and advantages of my invention are as follows:

The tree being contracted is introduced into a shoe 0, so that the foot forms I and 2 fit loosely of the links II and i2 of the foot-form toggle O are moved' forwardly by said forward connecting sleeve 23, whereby said links are swung on their pivot 28, and on their pivots I1 and II, respectively, and the outer ends of said links and the foot forms I and 2 are projected outwardly until the outer sides of said foot forms engagethe sides of the forward portion of the upper of the shoe I, while the rear connecting sleeve 24 is moved rearwardly on the adjusting screw rod II by the interengaging threads on said rod and in said sleeve; and the inner pivoted ends of the links I! and it of the heel-form toggle I are moved rearwardly by said rear connecting sleeve 24, whereby said links are swung on their pivot 28 and on their pivots I9 and 20, respectively, and the outer ends of said toggle links II and I6 and the heel forms 3 and 4 are projected outwardly until the outer sides of said heel forms fit the sides of the heel portion of the upper of the shoe, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing. The tree thus expanded and fitted to til it is desired to wear the shoe. when the tree is contracted by turning the thumb, wheel 22 to the left, whereby the above described operations are reversed and the foot forms I and 3 and the heel forms s and e are drawn inwardly by the form adjusting member 5 and the toggles e and 'i' from the sides of the upper of the shoe until: said forms fit loosely in the shoe, whereupon the tree may be withdrawn from the shoe.

The construction and arrangement of my shoe tree is such as to enable it to fit shoes of several different sizes.

I claim: 2

A shoe tree including o pair of foot forms, e.

, pair of heel forms, a toggle connecting said foot else, en adjusting screw threaded at opposite ends in said sleeves, respectively, and a grip member on said adjusting screw for turning said screw to move said connecting sleeves on said adjusting screw to swing said toggles to move said foot forms and said heel forms outwardly or inwerdly.

IRVING m6.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the tile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

